The 3 Gunas in Ayurveda

The 3 Gunas

According to the ayurveda, medicines and foods
are sattvic, rajasic or tamasic or a combination of
these gunas.The gunas are three fundamental attributes
that represent the natural evolutionary process through
which the subtle becomes gross. In turn, gross objects,
by action and interaction among themselves, may again
become subtle. Thus the three gunas are defined as :

Sattva : Essence (subtle)
Rajas : Activity
Tamas : Inertia (gross)

People equally can be more or less dominated
by one of the three gunas and an important way to regulate
these gunas in body and mind is through ayurvedic cooking
:

Sattvic foods :

Are fresh, juicy, light, unctuous,
nourishing, sweet and tasty.

Give the necessary energy to the body
without taxing it.

The foundation of higher states of
consciousness.

Examples : juicy fruits, fresh vegetables
that are easily digestible, fresh milk and butter, whole
soaked or also sprouted beans, grains and nuts, many herbs
and spices in the right combinations with other foods,

Rajasic foods :

Are bitter, sour, salty, pungent, hot
and dry.

Increase the speed and excitement of
the human organism.

The foundation of motion, activity
and pain.

Examples : sattvic foods that have
been fried in oil or cooked too much or eaten in excess,
specific foods and spices that are strongly exciting,

Tamasic Foods :

Are dry, old, decaying, distasteful
and/or unpalatable.

Consume a large amount of energy while
being digested.

The foundation of ignorance, doubt,
pessimism,

Examples : foods that have been strongly
processed, canned or frozen and/or are old, stale or incompatible
with each other - meat, fish, eggs and liquor are especially
tamasic.

Saints and seers can survive easily on sattvic
foods alone. Householders that live in the world and have
to keep pace with its' changes also need rajasic energy. They
ought to keep a balance between the sattvic and rajasic foods
and try to avoid tamasic foods as much as possible.

Free video teaching on the Gunas, starting with the general relationship
between
Yoga & Ayurveda, so you could scroll forward a bit to immediately start the part on the gunas :

This page was written by Peter Marchand, based on the "Healing Cuisine" book by Harish Johari, with 68 large pages on all principles of ayurvedic cooking as well as as over 200 great ayurvedic, vegetarian indian recipes.

Sanatan Society is an international networking association of students of
the late Harish Johari, joining efforts to promote his teachings of yoga
philosophy, tantra, worship, art and love. Sanatan Society stands
for the original, universal and eternal truth, path or law of yoga.
Though it is Hindu in origin, Sanatan Society is not limited to any religion,
race, time or country, nor in fact to any particular organisation.